In the mid to late eighty's Coca Cola company published a catchy jingle entitled, "Can't beat the real thing". I've often thought this slogan posed a warning to other competitors by maintaining their soft drink as the one and only authentic, original cola product. Although other cola products could be found, their product was deemed the classic. In other words, this company swears by their ingredients, maintains Coke products are not copied, false or counterfeit, but they are bonafide, reliable and credible, true to their name and reputation.
Several months ago Ms. Grey walked into my office requesting assistance with planning to conduct her job search. Although she had previous work experience, her work history was sketchy and equaled no more than receiving wages for completing a task. She had been unsuccessful in securing meaningful, gainful employment and had succumbed to the relentless blows of constant rejection in her job search. What do you think is holding you back, I asked? She sat quietly for a few moments and then said, "Maybe it's the interview." I asked Ms. Grey to step outside of my office, regain her composure and return to the office as if she were coming to interview with me. She entered, we shook hands, exchanged greetings and she took a seat. I then asked her to tell me about herself. It appeared that she was at a loss for words, speaking primarily of her role as a wife, mother and care taker for an aging parent. I was convinced that Ms. Grey had lost sight of herself, drowning in the long list of roles and responsibilities she had assumed while caring for others. She was unable to confidently and reliably express who she was; unable to speak of her person hood, name her unique qualities and those attributes that would make her the ideal candidate and set her apart from the rest. Like and actor on a stage, her true identity had been hidden under the weight of conformity to many roles and parts she had to play. Whether to conceal or protect, she adorned the garments, the mask had been molded, cast and set, hiding Ms. Grey from herself, negatively impacting her self esteem and preventing legitimate self expression, authentic relationships with God, herself and others.
Many people call me Reverend, some call me Elder and others call me Prophetess. These are titles proceeding my name; distinguishing designations descriptive of roles, ranks or callings in a particular sphere of my work. They are also representations of the different vocational garments I wear but in no way do they speak of who I am. If you are defining yourself only by daily roles, ranks and responsibilities, then you deceive yourself and others by limiting full expression of the person you were created to be. At some point we must stop and and ask ourselves this question; "Who am I?" If we are honest with ourselves, this is when convergence takes place, a point of prayerful deliberation, a meeting place where all parts of yourself -mind, body, soul and spirit come together working to achieve a common unity.
Maybe it's time to stop for a minute, find a place of solitude. Free yourself - cast off the garments and masks of your many roles and "Talk to the me that nobody sees". In this place of liberation, give no consideration to your flaws, peculiarities or imperfections; we all have them. God loves all parts of you; the good parts, the bad parts and the parts that are not so cute. Instead, consider those things that make you unique - those parts of yourself that you have kept hidden for fear of what others might think. Like fingerprints, you are one of a kind, completely unique, an original design with much more of you to be realized beyond what we view. When authencity is our practice, we move beyond rituals and rites and into the realms of deliverance. Then our motives and actions can become pure and absolute, without pretense, provoking others to do the same. Finally..... "Whatever is true, whatever is worthy of reverence and honorable and seemly, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely and lovable, whatever is kind and winsome and gracious, if there is any virtue and excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think on and weigh and take account of these things - fix your minds on them. Practice what you have learned and recieved and heard..... model your way of living on it; And the God of peace will be with you." Philippians 4:8-9 Amplified
